Well reamer



Oct. 4, 1932. J. B. TRIPLETT WELL REAMER Filed Dec. 5. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q7? fffffllll A Oct. 4, 1932. J. B. TRIPLETT WELL REAMER Filed Dec. 5. 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 Unirse fs-raras PATENT oFrlcE JAMES -B. rlIEtlPLETT, 'DECEASED, LATE OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA, BY WILLIAMII.

CAMPBELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND WILLIAM H. MAXWELL, F BEV- y* `ERLY HILLS, CALIFGRNIA, VC0-EXECU'TORS, ASSIGNORS T0 JOEN GRANT, OF `LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA mWELL BEAMER Appncmon' med December 5, 192s. serial No. 323,907.

i IThis invention has to dowith aV well reamer and relates particularly to an expansion reamer useful in the drilling of wells with the rotary method. The tool is intended to beused when it is desired to underream or enlarge a well bore or'tostraighten a well bore.

Itis ageneral object of the present invention yto`provide. an improved, practical ar-k -Another object of the invention is 'to provide an improved type of cutting means and 'anr improved mounting of such cutting means in a tool of the character mentioned. By the present invention the cutting means or cutter units are effectively :and dependably secured in the tool'.

Y There are numerous other objects and fea- Jtures of the present invention' which will be understood from the following ydetailed description cfa typical form and application of the invention, Vthroughout which description reference is had to 'the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Fig. l is a longitudinal detailed sectional View of the Vupper portion ofthe toolV showing the parte in collapsed or retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the lower portion of the tool showing the parts in position corresponding to that in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a View. similar .to Fig. l showing the parts expanded. or in voperating position.

Fig. 4f is a view similar .to Fig.V 2 showing the parts in position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 4 being a v view showing in detail l,the manner in which the upper end portion of a-cutter unit is secured in the main parts of the tool when the tool is in operating position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-#6 on Fig. 4e.

Fig. 7 .is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line 7-7 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 8 8 on Fig. 4.

. The tool provided by this invention includes, generally, two main sections A and B, a plurality of cutters or cutter units C carried by the main sections to beoperable by relative movement between the sections, means D for causing relative movement between the sections, and a control E for the means D.

The main parts or sections of the tool `may be formed and related in various manners, it being important, generally, that they be such as to effectively support or carry the cutter units, that they be relatively movable to veffect operation of the cutter units, and that they accommodate the means D and the control E. Certain of the important features of the present invention are in no way concerned with the various details of design or formation of the parts A vand B, and therefore the following detailed description of these parts is to be considered principally for the purpose of facilitating a full understanding of the invention and not as limiting or restricting the invention as defined in the claims.

The main section A is the lcentral or inner section of the tool, while the section B is the outer section. In the particularV arrangement illustrated the section A is adapted to be attached to the lower end of a string of drill pipe or other operating means and may therefore be considered the upper section while the section B is carried by the inner section and extends downwardly below the inner ysection and therefore may be considered the lower section of the tool.

The inner section A of the tool includes an elongate body l0 and a wedge head 11 on the body. In the arrangement shown the body is provided at its upper end with means for Y portion ofthe section.'` Y 15 attachment with a string of drill pipe, or the like, while the head 11 is provided on the lower end of the body. In the dra-wings the upper end of the body is shown provided .l 5T with threads v12 to carrya sub 13 for making connection with the drill pipe. rlhe tool, being designed for usewith the rotary method of. drilling, is provided` with a central longitudinaly circulation opening'. 14 formed through the sectionA, and,'in'accordance with the invention, the circulation opening has a portion 15 of reduced diameter at the lower end of the section, that is at the head llrhe outer `section B ofthe tool includes, generally, a body 16 carried on the lower end portion of the section A, a tubular eXtension 17 'l extending upwardly from the body 16 around the section A, and a head 18 on the upper end of the tubular extension V17. i

The body portion 16 of the section B has an Vvupper end portion carried on the lower lpart of the inner section A, has av middle portion having openings carrying the` cutter units,

and has a lower portion which may be used to carry a pilot bit 19 and pilot cutters 20, as

desired.'V In accordance with the preferred Y form of the invention, the upper end portion of the-body 16 lits over the yhead 11 and lower end lportion of the body'l() of the'section A,- while the middle portion of thebody 16, lcontinues downwardly to 'a Vpoint e below the head 11 of the section A. The middle portion of the body'. 16 has vertical or longitudinally disposed openings forl the reception ofthe cutter units. In the particular formationy illustrated, the middle portiony of thev body 16'is tubular andthe openings 21 are i in the form of slotsin the tubular wall. The

lowerendportion of the body16 is preferablyV provided with aj pilot bit 19." In the case the lower end portion' of the bodyf'f16 from Vits lower 'end to project upwardly through the socletslr24. The pins 25 fare held in place by the shank of the bit 19 which engages the lower end of the body y16, Las clearly shown in the drawings. Y

,i InV accordance with kthe present invention Ythe mainsections Ay and B areV related orcon# nected for limited relative movementvertically or longitudinally ofthe'tool and arev related onconnected against `relative rota.-

tion. The sections A and B are connected against relative rotation at or Vadjacent the head 11 of the section A through cooperating lcngitudinally disposed ribs and recesses. Inthe preferred form of the invention a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribs 26 project, outwardly from the body 10 of the section A adjacent the head 1v1 andare disposed longitudinally on the body. yThe upper end portion ofthe body 16 of section B is provided with an opening 27slidably carrying the lower end portion of thebody'lO ofy section A, and the walls vrof the opening 27 yare provided with longitudinally'disposed recesses 28 slidably carrying the ribs 26 on the section A. Y f vThe tubular eXtensionlT of section B eX- tendsv upwardly from the body 1,6 around the section A fitting the section A with'substantial clearance to forma chamber 30. The head 18 4is attached tothe upper end of the extensionl? and has an opening 31 slid ably-carrying the body 10 of thesection A. ln accordance with the preferred construc- Y tion the extension 17 is .screw threaded on the upper end of the-body 16 while theV head118 screw threads into the. upper end Vof the extension. Y 1

The means D provided for causing relative longitudinal movement between the sections p l Aj and B is preferably a spring means and in the particular case illustrated comprises a helical spring 32v arranged in the chamber`30 between any upwardly facing shoulder 33 on the bodyvlO of section A and a downwardly facing shoulder 341 onthe head 18 of section B. The spring 32 is a compression'spring proportionedsothat the section B isnormally yieldingly urged upwardly on or relative to the 'section A. -V

The control E y*provided forl controlling movement between the s'ectionsfthrough the actionofthe means D is'provided for the purpose of putting the tool under control of the operator so that it can be tripped or released for operation whenever desired. VThe control is preferably a hydraulic control means Vactuated bythe circulating fluid. ln the drawings the cont-rol E is shown as including a hydraulic trip which includes alatch 36 for releasably holding thesections A and B of the body apart, or positioned as shown in Fig. Y 1, and a hydraulic trigger 37 for controlling the latch. Thelatch 36 is shown mounted in an opening 38 provided inthe body 10 of section A. The latch 36 has a head with a beveled face 39 designed to cooperatively enn gage a beveled face 40 on the :head 18 of section B.

Y When the latch is out or in position to hold the sections A and B inthe positionsshown in Lthe faces 39 and l() are in cooperative enga-gement. and act to tend tomove the latch 36 inwardly or to the released'position. -Such inward movement of the latch 36Y is resisted by the hydraulic trigger 37 which ispivotally mounted in the circulation opening lof the body 10.l VThe trigger 3Zis' pivotally CII tion B is released and allowed to move upwardly on the section A.

rlhe present invention provides one or more cutter units C, it being preferred in most cases to use three cutter units equally spaced around the centralaxis of the tool. rlhe cutter units are mounted in or carried by the sections A and B so that they are shiftable Vfrom a collapsed or retracted position, such as is shown inFig. 2, to an operating or expanded position such as is shown in Fig. 4. This operation'or expansion of the cutterunits is caused'by relative movement between the wedge head 11 of the section A and the cutter units. ln thecase illustrated the cutter units are bodily carried bythe section B of the tool so that the relative `movement of the section B with reference Vto the sect-ion A causes the desired relative movement between the cutter units and the wedge head 11 of the section A. The wedge head 11 has a plurality of upwardly and outwardly extending wedge faces 43 to cooperatively engage the cutter units. Y

In accordance with the number and arrangement of ribs 26 on the l section A corresponds to that of the wedge faces 43 so that theV wedge faces extending upwardly and outwardly on the head 11 join orextendfonto the ribs 26. `With this construction orarrangement, the upper end portion of the body 16 of section B has 'sliding bearing engagement with the section A vbetween the wedge faces thus establishing an effective direct driving rengagement between the sections at the cutter supporting portions of the sections.

ln practice the several cutter units C of a.

Y single tool are preferably alike and therefore a detailed description of one unit will be given, it being understood that such description may apply to all of the units.

The cutter unit C includes, generally, a plurality of revolving cutters, a'pin for carrying the cutters, and upper and lower mounting blocks 44 and 45, respectively,

carrying the pin. c

ln the preferred form of the invention there is .a plurality of upper roller cutters 46 carried on the upper end portion 47 of the pin and a plurality of lower cutters 48 carried on the lower portion 49 of the pin. The pin is bent intermediate the upper and lower portions 47 Vand 49, or, 1n other words, 1s formed so that the sections 47 and 49 are angularly disposed relative to each other, and the upper the present invention' section 47 is substantially larger in diameter than the lower section49. lnthe preferredrelationing of parts the upper section 47 of the pin is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool when the cutter unit is in operating position as shown in Fig. 4, while the lower section 49 extends upwardly and outwardly, its upper end joining or being integral with the lower end of the upper section 47, as shown in the drawings.

The cutters 46 on the upper end portion 47 of the pin are roller cutters having toothed outer faces extending substantially parallel to the portion 47 of the pin so .that they are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool when in operation. The cutters 46 on the lower portion 49 of the pin are provided with toothed outer faces which are tapered or conically shaped so that they are substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool when in operation even though their axis of rotation is angularly disposed with reference to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

,The mounting pin carrying the cutters 46 and48 is carried by the sections A and B through the blocks 44 and 45. The block 45 carries the lower end of the pin and is attached'to the outer section B of the tool, while the block 44 carries the upper end of the pin and has connection with the inner section A of the tool. The block 45 is mounted in the opening 21 in the body 16 of section B. In accordance with the invention, the block is retained in the opening 21 by a pivot pin 50 extending between opposite sides of the opening 21 and through the lower end portion of the block 45. The block 45 has an upward extension 51 extending upwardly behind or inward of the cutter carrying pin. The upper inner portion of the extension 51 is provided with a face 52 to bear on the wedge face 43of the head 11 when the cutter unit is in operating position, as shown in Fig. 4.

In accordance with the present invention, flanges 53 and 54 project outwardly from the extension 51 to support the pin intermediate its ends. rllhe flange 53 is arranged to support the upper end portion 47 of the pin and engages the portion 47 between adjacent cut. ters 46. The flange 53 has a notch 55 in its i* outer part in which the pin portion 47 seats. rlhe rflanges l54 engage the lower portion 49 of the pin and each flange engages the pin intermediate cutters 48. T he flanges 54 preferably surround the portion 49 of the pin, that is they are preferably provided with bores 56 which slidably receive the portion 49 of the pin, as clearly shown throughout the drawings.

Theextreme lower end of the pin portion 49 extends into va socket 57 provided in the lower portion of the block 45. The up thrust of certain of the cutters 46 and 48 is taken by the flanges of the block 45, while the up thrust ofthe uppermost cutters 46 is taken by a shoulder 60 on a head provided on the upper end of the pin, and the up thrust of the uppermost cutters 48 is taken by the shoulder 6:1'occurring.betweenthe two pin portions 47 and49. Y

.' rlhe invention provides openings 62 through the extension 51 of the block 45 to allow circulating fluid admitted behind the extension 51 from the section A of the tool to discharge outwardly against the cutters` of the. unit. This keeps the cutters free and in operating condition. Y lk The block 44 carries the upper end of the pin. .The pin has a head 66 Von the upper l *gend of the-portion 47V which head extends Vupwardly into an opening 67 formed verti- -cally in the block 44. The block 44 is slide ably supported on the wedge face 43 of the --head l1. 1n the preferred constructionthe block 44 is slidably keyed to the fac-e 43 .y there being'ajdovetailed rib 70 on the block fitting a corresponding groove 1 in the face. Thecutter unit is proportioned so that the block 44 is located adjacent the upper end Y of the opening 21, and in the preferred form of the invention the block has an upwardly Vextending' tongue projecting upwardly to extend into the body part 16 of section B above Y they openingv 21 'when the cutter is in operating position, as shown in Fig. 4.

The headv 66 ofthe pin has a tongue 73 which likewise projects upwardly into the body part'16 above the opening 21, Yas'clearly Y shown Yin the drawings. VThe head 66 and block 44 are connected by means of a pin 8O so that'they have sufficient play or relative movementto allow for shifting of the parts between the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4 ofthe drawings. In the preferred formation of parts the tongueV 7 3 extendsinto the recess 28 in the body part 16 andbears against the bottom of the recess when the'parts are in position, as shown in Fig. 4, and at the same time the lower end 81 of the block 45 seats onor abutsthe lowerendofzthe opening 2l. ThusV when the unit is in operating position itis rigid or firm, being eifectivelyheld by both the sectionsA and VB.V It is to be particularly noted that the upper block 44 of the unit issupported by the sectioneA as well as the section B andthat the cutter supporting pin ofthe unit is supported at its ends and at a plurality of points intermediate its .Y rEhe circulating thefbody 16 of the sectionB behind the blocx extensions 51. A circulation opening 35 is ".culation openings 86 are provided in the head l 11 of thelsection Av between the'opening 14 and the wedge faces 43 toy direct circulating fluidontothe upper cutters 46 ywhich arefnct yfluid introduced into 'the `opening 14 of the section A discharges into reeehed by eifedieang duid dieeherged through openings Y62.

VInoperating the tool it is applied to the lower end of a string of drill pipe, or the like, and before' it is introduced into the well vunits are in the contracted position.v The tool-'is lowered into the well, for'instance, through and to a point below the well casing, and, when it has reached the point in the well where the roaming operation is to be performed, the control Eis operated to release the spring 32 so that the body sections are moved relative to each other to cause expansion Vof the cutter units. Qperation Vof the control E is accomplished by forcing circulation iuid downwardly torelease the trigger 37- so that the latch 36 is released to allow relative movement between the sections A land B to thepositions shown in Figs. 3 and Ordinarily thesection Aron the end of the string of drill'pipe is stationary or is substantially stationary when the tool is tripped` or released and therefore the spring 32 operates to move the main section B upwardly on the section A. Thisca'uses the vcutter units to move upwardly relative to thewedge'head 11 which obviously causes the upper ends ofthe cutter units to be wedged or forced outwardly` to the position shownin Fig. 4. l

.With the parts-in the expanded position,

Vthe toolis ready` for-the reaming operation of the bore, enlarging the bore until the upper cutters 44 operate to Yfinally cutthe bore to the desired` size. l 4

To withdraw the toolv from Vthe well, it is pulled upwardly. `As the tool is moved upwardly any obstruction in the well or a shoe, or the like, on the lower end of a' casing, engaging the blocks 44 of the cutter units, causes the blocks 44 to be moved downwardly relative to the section A, which causes them to be retractedor moved inwardly. In this manner the Vtool will automaticallycollapse or become retracted in order to permit its withdrawal from the well.

From the foregoing'description it will be apparent thaty the present `invention provides ed to the arrangement,- construction, andformation of parts in the cuttery units. rlhe cutter units arepsuch that they can be very eas- I ily and quicklyassembled and aresuchas to be secure and effective inv operation when in place in the tool. The cutters or working Y Y partsof the cutter units are effectively supported and are eectively flushed with circulating fluid so that they work freely and ef- `ciently.

Having described only a typical preferred l and two sections carrying the unit forexpansion, one section having an inclined part, the

form and application of the invention, it is to be understood that the broader principles vof the invention are not to be limited to details such as have been set forth, but that the invention is to be measured bythe following claims.

Having described the invention, it is claimed:

l. A well reamer including, a cutter imit, and means carrying the cutter unit for tilting movement to expanded position, the unit including a cutter carrying pin, a cutter on the pin, and relativelyy movable blocks carrying the ends of the pin, one of the blocks having a part engaging the pin at a. point intermediate its ends.

EZ. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, andmeans carrying the cutter unit for tilting movement to expanded position, the unit including a cutter carrying pin, a cutter on the pin, and relatively movable blocks carrying the ends of the pin, one of the blocks having a plurality of parts engaging the pinat spaced points intermediate its ends.

V3. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, and means carrying the cutter unit for tiltving movement to expanded position, the unit including a pin having angularly related cutter carrying parts, and separate blocks carrying the ends of the pin, one of the blocks having parts supporting said parts of the pin intermediate their ends.

4. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, and means carrying the cutter unit for tilting movement to expanded position, the unit including a pin having angularly related cutter carrying parts, cutters on the parts, and blocks carrying the ends of the pin, one of the blocks having parts supporting said parts of the pin intermediate their ends.

5. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, and means carrying thecutter unit for tilting movement to expanded position, the unit including a pin having angularly related cutter carrying parts, cutters on the said parts, and separate blocks carrying the ends of the pin, the block carrying the lower end of the pin having parts supporting said parts oi the pin intermediate their ends.

6. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, andv means carrying the cutter unit for tilting movement to expanded position, the unit including, a pin having angularly related cutter carrying parts, cutters on the said parts,

separate parts supporting the ends of the pin, and means supporting said parts of the pin intermediate their ends.

7'. A wellreamerfincluding, a cutter unit, andtwo sections carrying the unit for expansion, one section having an inclined part, the unit including a cutter carrying pin, a cutter on the pin and blocks carrying the ends of the pin, both blocks having coopera-tive 'engagement with saidA part.

8. A well reamer including, a cutter unit,

unit including a cutter carrying pin, a cutter on the pin and blocks carrying the ends of the pin, both blocks having cooperative engage- -ment with said part, and one block being pivotally connected with the other section;

9. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, and two sections carrying the unit for expansion, one section having an inclined part, the unit including a cutter carrying pin, acutter on the pin, and blocks carrying the ends of the pin, both blocks having cooperative engagement with said part, one block having a circulation opening.

10. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, and two sections carrying the unit for expansion, one section having an inclined part, the unit including a cutter carrying pin, a cutter on the pin and blocks carrying the ends of the pin, both blocks having cooperative engagement with said part, and one block being pivotally connected with the other section and having part-s supporting the pin intermediate its ends.

ll. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, and two sections carrying the unit for expansion, one section having an inclined part, the unit including a cutter carrying pin, a cutter on the pin and blocks carrying the ends of the pin, both blocks having cooperative engagement with said part, and one block being pivotally connected with the other section and having parts supporting the pin at a pllurality of spaced points intermediate its enc s.

l2. A well reamer including, a cutter unit, and means carrying the cutter unit for tilting movement to expanded position, the unit including, a pin having parts of different diameters forming a shoulder, and cutters rotatably carried on said parts, the cutters on (ne of said parts bearing against said shoulc er.

13. In a well reaming tool two sections related for relative longitudinal movement one section extending int-o the other, a wedge head at the lower end of the inner section, longitudinal ribs on the said inn-er section slidable in recesses in the other section, the wedge head having inclined faces continuous with the ribs, and a cutter unit related to the wedge head for outward movement upon relative movement between the sections.

14. In a. well reaming tool, two sections, an upper section and a lower section, the lower section extending over a portion of the upper section, the sections being related for relative longitudinal movement, a head at the lower end or the upper section, ribs on the upper section slidable in longitudinal recesses in the lower section, the head having inclined 6y l 51,831,035 f `fafoes'izontnuous with 'the'rib theie being a Y circulation passage through the upper Section a'ndjbei-ng of reduced diameter in the' head, 'A -midlacutter unit related to the head for `out- Ward'movement upon relative movement be'- -tWeen the sections. f 4 e f 1 H. CAMPBELL, Y l 1. K H. MAXWELL, v .0o-executors @maler the Last Will and Testa mm1/107C James B. Triplett, Deceased.vk 

